Imhotep was positively sick to his stomach. He had come by to see Anck-su-namun, and maybe have breakfast with her, to discuss her hieroglyphic lessons. Instead he found Seti abusing her, badly.
Imhotep cringed every time Seti hit his beloved, and almost cried out when he saw how much blood had escaped her mouth, and was now on both her and Seti's bodies. Imhotep watched in silent fury as Seti moaned with pleasure and Anck-su-namun scowled and winced. He saw tears mixing with the blood on her mouth.
Imhotep wanted to run in right there and murder Seti. How could he do this to her? If he really cared for her, he would be kind, not abusive.
She's just a statue to him. Imhotep thought. An elaborate piece of clothing.
Imhotep shuddered with fury and silently left the room; unable to bear the sight of it any longer.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Anck-su-namun opened her eyes stiffly. Either she had passed out or Seti had hit her very hard on the head. She decided on the latter, because of the throbbing pain on her scalp. She slowly lifted her hand and felt the top of head. The was a big lump, and the hair around it was crusted with blood.
Anck-su-namun licked her lips and tasted blood. She felt the area around her mouth. It was as covered with dried blood as the top of her head. She looked at her body, and saw the blood ran down to her stomach, where it had been badly smudged. Anck-su-namun tried to sit up, but was suddenly overcome with pain in her shoulder, that had been hit twice. She laid back down on the bed, her breath coming in short gasps.
Anck-su-namun's ribs hurt from where Seti had punched her, and breathing had now become terribly difficult and painful. In fact, everything her body did was painful. She had bruises almost everywhere, but the only open wound was her mouth, where Band-Aids could not help.
Anck-su-namun shuddered and began to sob. Dear God, she hated Seti. Hated him and everything he did. She wished that some day, any day, he could endure the pain and heartbreak he had inflicted upon her, even if she wasn't able to watch.
Suddenly there was a hand on her forehead. Visions of Seti's abuse still fresh in her mind, she slapped it with all the force she could. The hand was immediately removed, and Anck-su-namun opened her eyes.
"Imhotep?! Oh my God, I'm so sorry." She whispered to the priest, who was rubbing his wrist.
"It's okay," He said soothingly. He lifted her up so she was sitting up against the pillows. "What happened?" Imhotep wondered why he had even asked this question.
Anck-su-namun stuttered for a minute. "I-I-I tripped over a vase, and hit my head and my mouth." She mumbled, not making eye contact with him.
He put his hand on her shoulder. How typical. She didn't want to admit to being abused. That pride was one of the things he loved about her.
"I saw." He whispered.
Anck-su-namun lifted her tear-streaked face up to his. She stared at him for a few seconds before throwing herself into his arms, crying uncontrollably. He embraced her and caressed her hair, letting her stain his robes with a mixture of blood, tears, and pain.